After a noon rally and march to protest higher education costs, protesters at UC Berkeley returned to Sproul Hall, where they set up tents. Police in riot gear moved in to clear the tents and a scuffle ensued this afternoon and again this evening.

12:43 a.m. Protesters prepare to spend the night

Demonstrators determined to stay the night at the UC Berkeley campus are fending off the cold with blankets and jackets. Police are staying back, although they continue to protect the entrance to Sproul Hall. Those staying the night as part of the Occupy Cal protest insist on carrying out a peaceful sit-down protest until others can join them in the morning. Organizers say they will start recruiting new protesters at 9 a.m.

11:42 p.m. Crowd is thinning out as organizers discuss plans for tomorrow

The number of people gathered at Sproul Plaza has dropped to about 750, but police and protesters show no signs of going home. Still, organizers seem to be focussed on plans for tomorrow rather than another confrontation tonight. Earlier, demonstrators were chanting, "What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like."

11 p.m. Organizers work to recruit for tomorrow

About two dozen police continue to guard the front of Sproul Hall. Protesters are standing around the area but not confronting the authorities. Organizers are asking those gathered to help recruit more protesters starting at 10 a.m. Thursday so that a larger crowd can be present for a general assembly at 6 p.m.

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10:35 p.m. Protest leaders ask crowd to return Thursday

Alameda County Sheriff's deputies and UC police are still blocking access to Sproul Hall but the crowd appears to be dispersing. Leaders are asking protesters to return tomorrow.

10:15 p.m. Police protect lawn, plaza entrance

At least 40 officers are guarding the lawn in front of Sproul Plaza to prevent demonstrators from reoccupying the area. Protest leaders say they will reconvene Thursday evening and try to recruit more sympathizers. "We need to double, triple and quadruple our participation if we are going to win this struggle," said Emiliano Huet-Vaughn, 28, a graduate student from Kansas City who said two of his friends were injured by police batons. "Here we are at the home of the Free Speech movement and the actions of the chancellor and the police are more draconian than most of the rest of the country. You would think that someone would look around and have more common sense than that."

9:58 p.m. Several treated for injuries at UC protest

A medic at the scene says three people, one male and two females, were treated for wounds suffered from a baton. They were treated and released. The crowd of 1,000 is being asked again to disperse.

9:51 p.m. Crowd continues to grow as police clear lawn

UC police are facing off against a crowd of about 1,000 demonstrators. Lots of police cars are driving up Telegraph Avenue. The lawn is cleared of people and tents.

9:42 p.m. Police rip down tents, order dispersal of crowd

Campus police have ripped down the tents and ordered all the protesters off the grass. Three men were led off in handcuffs. Protesters are chanting "Shame, shame, shame."

9:35 p.m. Police move toward crowd to confront protesters

Three dozen officers in riot gear are surrounding the plaza. Some engaged in a brief tussle with a few protesters. Demonstrators are chanting, "Stop beating students."

9:20 p.m. Crowd begins to form human wall around tents

More than 300 people have started forming a human wall, about three people deep. Stretching about 30 yards wide, the crowd is chanting, "Need more people" and "Join us." They are protecting the tents in front of Sproul Hall. No police have moved toward the group.

9:05 p.m. More gathering at Sproul Plaza

About 300 protesters are listening to speakers rally the crowd, chanting, "We are the people. We are the power. We will prevail." Few police are evident at the scene.

8:45 p.m. Temperatures and tensions cool

Tension is subsiding at UC as officers hang back and protesters get coffee to warm up. Still about 150 protesters are gathered in front of Sproul Hall with eight tents erected on the grass.

7:40 p.m. Tensions apparent between police, protesters

Protesters had a strong response to a handful of police who appeared to monitor the protests: "Go home, go home, go home!" they shouted at about half a dozen officers.

"We need to be extremely vigilant to police tonight," one protester extolled the crowd.

7:30 p.m. Congregation disperses

The speeches appear to be over for the time being at Sproul, and the earlier crowd has dispersed somewhat. Perhaps 150 people remain in the center of Sproul, while others have moved away to buy coffee and other refreshments as the temperature continues to plummet.

The earlier contingent of police have also drifted away, and perhaps two remain to monitor the crowd.

7 p.m.: 'Tents mark a sense of hope'

Protesters voted overwhelmingly to stay in Sproul Plaza, even as police slowly start to gather for what is expected to be a 10 p.m. showdown.

Seven tents have been set up on a corner of Sproul Plaza, and protesters are setting up one more. About six officers, many holding helmets, are gathering on the edge of the protest, where as many as 500 people remain in the free speech area of the plaza.

Protesters have been making speeches since about 5:45 p.m., and said their movement at UC Berkeley is supported by Occupy Oakland, Occupy Marin and Occupy San Francisco.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Harry Le Grande addressed the crowd briefly, assuring them that people are free to gather in Sproul Plaza around the clock. However, he said tents, sleeping bags, blankets, items to cook food or other items associated with camping will not be allowed and will be removed.

"We hope you will work with one another and with us to follow our guidelines," he said.

The associate professor is Celeste Langan with UC Berkeley's Townsend Center for the Humanities.

Six were arrested on both suspicion of resisting arrest and failure to disperse, and are being processed and may receive additional charges, Yao said. Diaz was only booked on resisting arrest, he said.

5 p.m. Tents return, police warn to clear out

Shortly after the arrests, students again pitched tents and this time police only warn the protesters that camping is not allowed.

There are reports that students have been warned that they will not be allowed to camp after 10 p.m.

4:15 p.m. Six arrested

UC Police say six people have been arrested, no details on charges yet. Alameda County Sheriff's deputies on the scene as well.

3:50 p.m. Students arrested by police

There appear to be several arrests made, and some people are being hit by police. Tents were cleared away by officers, but one has just popped up after they left. The crowd pressing forward as police retreat.

1:30 p.m. General Assembly

The protesters held a general assembly, broke into groups and set up the tents on the lawn after a 1:30 p.m. general assembly. They linked arms and formed a circle around the tents to prevent police from removing the small encampment.